Early voting ends in Harris County Senate special election

Debate between the democratic candidates, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, from left, Mia Mundy and State Rep. Ana Hernandez, for the special election for Texas Senate Dist. 6 at University of Houston Downtown on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Early voting concluded Friday in the special election to replace Sylvia Garcia in Senate District 6, and the low turnout is about what the Harris County clerk expected.

More than 1,097 voters cast ballots Friday either in person or by mail, bringing the early voting tally to 10,011.

Turnout typically spikes on the last day of early voting, but heavy rains that began Friday afternoon may have encouraged residents to wait until regular balloting on Tuesday. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart expects just shy of 20,000 of registered voters the district to participate, for a turnout of about 6 percent.

The race features four candidates: Democratic state Reps. Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez, Democratic consultant Mia Mundy and Harris County Republican Party precinct chairwoman Martha Fierro.

Garcia resigned the seat last month after she was elected to the U.S. House District 29 seat vacated by the retirement of fellow Democrat Gene Green.

Senate District 6, in east Harris County, is heavily Hispanic and traditionally supports Democrats.

Alvarado and Hernandez are the frontrunners, University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said, because they have more elected experience and have raised more money. Alvarado spent $391,000 from the end of October to Dec. 1, while Hernandez spent $162,000 during that period. Fierro reported only $4,000 in fundraising in that time frame, which was higher than Mundy, who disclosed no contributions or expenses.

In the race’s only debate, held Tuesday, Alvarado and Hernandez spent much of their time sparring with each other about their time in the Legislature. Hernandez said Alvarado was too agreeable with Republicans in the chamber, while Alvarado suggested Hernandez lives outside the Senate district, a charge she denies.

If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held. If Alvarado or Hernandez ultimately prevails, Harris County must hold a special election, likely in January, to fill her House seat in the Legislature. That election would be overseen by incoming county clerk Diane Trautman, who defeated Stanart in November.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can find their voting location at HarrisVotes.com.

Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle, including Commissioners Court and flood control. He came to Houston from the Burlington Free Press in Vermont and was also the managing editor of the Houston Press. In 2017 he won the Best Feature award from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for his feature on Venezuelan corruption in Houston and Miami. He is a New York native and graduate of the University of Vermont. Follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com.